Heavy Rainfall Alert in Himachal Pradesh and Northern India

Red Alert Issued for Himachal Pradesh

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Kangra, Sirmaur, and Mandi districts of Himachal Pradesh. The state has been dealing with heavy rain, cloudbursts, and landslides for days.

Impact of Monsoon Rains

Since the monsoon began on June 20, at least 75 people have died in rain-related incidents. Additionally, 31 people are still missing, and rescue operations are ongoing.

Flash Flood Warnings

The weather agency has also warned of low to moderate flash flood risks in parts of Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, and Sirmaur over the next 24 hours. An orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain is in place for Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Chamba, Solan, Shimla, and Kullu districts.

Government Response and Relief Efforts

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has stated that the government is prepared for any rain-related events. Relief operations include:

• Delivering food supplies by mules to remote villages in Thunag of Mandi district.
• Rescuing stranded tourists.
• Providing financial aid for displaced families.

The chief minister has also urged residents to rent out extra rooms to families displaced by cloudbursts. The state will provide Rs 5,000 per month to each affected family for rent. Around 63 tourists and crew members stranded in a hotel in Mandi district have been evacuated.

Infrastructure Damage and Losses

During this monsoon season, 288 people were injured in Himachal Pradesh. Around 240 roads remain blocked, including 176 in Mandi district. Public and private infrastructure has suffered losses estimated at Rs 541.09 crore, with the actual figure possibly closer to Rs 700 crore.

Heavy Rain Alert in Punjab and Haryana

The weather department has issued an orange alert for several districts in Punjab and Haryana, including Chandigarh. This alert warns of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning over the next 24 hours.

Affected Districts

In Punjab, the orange alert covers:

• Pathankot
• Amritsar
• Gurdaspur
• Kapurthala
• Hoshiarpur
• Rupnagar
• Nawanshahr
• Fatehgarh Sahib
• SAS Nagar
• Jalandhar

A yellow alert has been issued for the rest of the state.

In Haryana, orange alerts have been issued for Ambala, Panchkula, and surrounding areas, with yellow alerts across other districts.

Precautions and Warnings

The IMD has forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall between July 6 and July 9 across northern and eastern Punjab and parts of Haryana and Chandigarh. Authorities have warned of:

• Flash floods
• Urban flooding
• Possible landslides in hilly areas

A yellow alert has also been issued for Delhi, forecasting thunder and lightning accompanied by light rain in the national capital.